New era begins as Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls saddle first runner with joint-licence - punting pointers for New Year's Day
Punting pointers from some of today's race meetings . . .
Catterick: Be The Difference returns to scene of front-running victory
Be The Difference was the beneficiary of a well-judged front-running ride by Shay Halton, who helped the eight-year-old to his first win for more than three years over the same course and distance as the 3m1½f handicap hurdle (3.05).
The stewards spoke to the riders of the second, third and fourth whose mounts made ground on Be The Difference but ultimately could not catch the son of Califet, who was 30 lengths clear at three out and eventually won by a length and a half.
The handicapper raised Be The Difference's rating by 5lb after that amateur riders' race from which the form is difficult to assess. Halton took 7lb off his mount on that occasion and has been replaced by 3lb claimer Joe Williamson, so the topweight is effectively 9lb worse off as he bids to follow up.
Exeter: promising novice hurdlers clash
Kap Vert finished clear of some well-regarded rivals when getting off the mark at the second attempt for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White at Exeter last time and returns to the same track and trip for the 2m½f novice hurdle (2.45).
He beat the 127-rated Jurancon by three and a half lengths and the seventh-placed U Cant Be Serious boosted the form when winning a Taunton novice hurdle by nine and a half lengths on Monday.
The son of Kapgarde runs in the colours of Ronnie Bartlett, who won the King George VI Chase with Banbridge, but will need to reverse his penultimate-start form with Crest Of Fortune.
Crest Of Fortune beat Kap Vert by ten lengths at Ffos Las in November and meets that rival on the same terms here after chasing home unbeaten hurdler Royal Infantry at Haydock last time.
Fairyhouse stat: trainer to note
Gordon Elliott has won both previous runnings of the 2m½f mares' hurdle (12.10) and the trainer is represented by the unbeaten Magic Boum, who is the mount of Sam Ewing.
Fairyhouse: Cheltenham Festival winner back against own sex
Cheltenham Festival heroine Limerick Lace reverts to mares' company at Fairyhouse after finishing fifth in Betfair Chase at Haydock. This will be the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old's first start in Ireland since she was second in the 2023 Troytown and her trainer Gavin Cromwell also runs another Cheltenham winner in Malina Girl.
Riviere D'Etel beat Allegorie De Vassy by 33 lengths in this Grade 3 (2.25) last year before the runner-up reversed the form on their next meeting at Naas. However, both have plenty to find with Limerick Lace on their festival meeting last season. Course winner Hauturiere completes the line-up.
Fakenham: hat-trick seekers meet in feature
Bluegrass and Secret Des Dieux bid for hat-tricks in Fakenham's feature 2m4f handicap hurdle (2.35) having both started their winning runs over two miles on the same card at the Norfolk venue in November.
Bluegrass beat subsequent winner Milldam by 13 and a half lengths at Huntingdon on Peterborough Chase day before Secret Des Dieux defied a penalty to follow up in a Hereford novice hurdle.
Secret Des Dieux's jockey Ciaran Gethings has ridden Bluegrass on nine of his 12 hurdles starts so will know all about the threat his Stuart Edmunds-trained rival poses.
James Owen, the trainer of Secret Des Dieux, said: "He's a lovely horse and he's learning as he goes. This is a step into his first handicap, but we think a hell of a lot of him and it looks the ideal race. A bit of rain wouldn't hurt, but he should handle it well."
Newcastle: Wokingham winners among the cast in sprint handicap
Newcastle's 6f handicap (3.34) features two Wokingham winners although Saint Lawrence has been beaten in all 12 starts since his victory at the 2023 royal meeting.
Saint Lawrence's trainer Archie Watson also runs dual course winner Albasheer, who struck on this card 12 months ago, in the £25,200 event.
Rohaan, a dual Wokingham winner, has got his head in front twice since the second of his Royal Ascot victories in 2022 and is rated 12lb lower that when recording his latest success at Ascot in October 2023. Malc also brings Royal Ascot form to the race, having finished second to Valiant Force in the 2023 Norfolk Stakes and he filled the same position when giving 5lb to the winner Kylian at this track when last seen.
Southwell: new era begins for Bailey and Nicholls
Moon Rocket will be the first runner under a joint-licence for Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls and attempts to follow up his successful Doncaster rules debut at Southwell.
Nicholls has been working for Bailey for 16 years and the wheels were put in motion for him to join the trainer on the licence after his boss reached an agreed total of 1,500 winners.
Nicholls learned his trade with the likes of Nigel Twiston-Davies, Tom George and Carl Llewellyn before becoming Bailey's assistant at Thorndale Farm.
On the chances of Moon Rocket in the 3m½f novice hurdle (1.39), Bailey said: "He won very nicely at Doncaster and the trip will suit him. I'm worried about the amount of rain forecast but we can't do anything about that.
"I see him as a staying chaser for the future. He showed a bit more speed than we thought he had last time, so that's good, but he's an out-and-out stayer. He's quite a nice horse."
Southwell stat: in-form rider
Freddie Gordon has ridden four winners from his last eight mounts and Lucy Wadham has booked the 3lb claimer for the first time to partner Pretending in the feature 2m handicap hurdle (2.49).
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